This Is A Season

Of course when November comes around we all know that Thanksgiving will take place on the 4th Thursday of the month.  It has been that way for many years.  People plan on it. Stores stock their shelves with items traditionally associated with the holiday.  The travel industry schedules for it.  So it can safely be said that Thanksgiving is a given.

Well then what is not a given?  Our time here on Earth is NOT a given.  Material goods are NOT a given.  And sadly to say, family and love is not always a given.  Eight of my eleven children were not blessed with the given of family.  The only thing that seven of those eight had or rather knew was a given was the fact that they were going to grow up without love, a family to belong to, full bellies, warm beds. clean clothes, and an education.  Not one child should even know what that means.  Those should not be givens!  Now I can truly say that not all beds will look the same, nor will all educations take place at some Ivy League university, and not every family will be perfect. 

 That is not the point.

The point is that where there is love there should also be a place for a child.

For our family we have givens. We have things that ,whether my children are cognitively able to process this in a testable manner or not, are a GIVEN.

My children have educational opportunities!

My children have full bellies.

My children have warm beds and clean clothes.

But most important of all....

My children are loved by both Brian and I as well as God! 

                  They have worth. 

                                            They are important.  

They are the reason I am in an incredible season of Thanksgiving!